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12 August 2026

US forces strike containership Vela Nova in Gulf of Oman

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Source reporting: Container News

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US forces strike containership Vela Nova in Gulf of Oman

US forces struck the Panama-flagged containership Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly attempted to breach the US blockade against Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). CENTCOM said a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the vessel’s engine room after its civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces. The strike disabled the vessel’s steering capability and prevented it from continuing towards an Iranian port, according to the US military. The incident occurred on 11 August approximately 71 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan. UKMTO reports incident involving military forces The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) initially reported an incident involving a containership and military forces in the Gulf of Oman at around 0715 UTC.

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